John 1 Verses 14-18

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” 

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  As we have previously observed the title or name “Word” speaks of the manifestation of God to his elect people in a way that they are capable of understanding.  Christ is God manifest in the flesh.  It is in the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, the Word, that God is manifest to us and through which we behold his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father.  Moreover, as we are told, this one who is manifest to us is full of grace and truth.  Grace is the unmerited favor of God towards his elect family and truth is what the word declares.  The fact that He is full of grace and truth teaches us that he is very personification of grace and truth. 

“John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”  In this statement John declares the eternal nature of Christ (for he was before me), at the same time showing us by example John’s humility and understanding that “it was not about John,” but about the eternal Son of God.   

“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”  John had previously stated that Christ was full of grace and truth.  Here he is declaring that we have received from Christ both grace and truth.  We should give praise to God for his grace that has saved us from our sins and caused us to be born of the Spirit.  Also, we should thank God for his truth that has been revealed to us.   

“And grace for grace…”  We often reflect, and rightfully so, on the grace of God that God has bestowed upon us that delivered us from the bondage of sin and saved us from the condemnation of sin.  Also, we reflect on the grace of God for daily living and for help in time of need.  That he gives us grace for grace introduces an additional concept about grace.  God’s grace enables us to be gracious to others.  In 2 Corinthians chapter 8 we read of churches in Macedonia that were suffering great trials of afflictions and were in deep poverty.  Yet, they were willing to give what little that they had to a people they perceived to be in greater need than they.  Paul speaks of this as grace for giving.  He admonished the Church at Corinth to abound in this grace also: 1 Cor. 8:1 “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” 

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  A comparison is made here between Moses and Christ.  God used Moses to deliver the law covenant to the children of Israel.  The law condemns.  In comparison grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  Christ being the personification of truth came and fulfilled the law perfectly and then by his grace he suffered and died to satisfy God’s righteous judgment against us because of our sins.  This was accomplished by God’s unmerited favor towards his people. 

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”